Healthy Relationships Matter

NEWS & RECORD

GREENSBORO, N.C. (February 12, 2017) — What happens between people every day certainly makes a difference in the quality of their relationships, but have you considered how much relationships also are affected by the community context surrounding them? Many people view relationships and family life as private, behind-closed-doors parts of life. However, this model breaks down when people lack the skills, resources or support to build or maintain healthy relationships. Negative relationship outcomes can take a huge toll on individuals and the broader community, including through decreased school performance or work productivity, physical and mental health problems, and a diminished social fabric of the community. On the flip side, positive relationships provide a foundation on which children and adults can grow into caring, engaged community members. Thus, the health of relationships within a community is an important public health issue.